Aam Admi Paty MLA Cruz Silva has unequivocally supported the stand taken by the Diocesan Commission for Ecology, Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, in reiterating its opposition to the South Western Railway (SWR) double-tracking project.
He said this project, which threatens the ecological sanctity of Goa and the democratic rights of its people, has already been deemed unjustified and destructive by the Supreme Court of India. The landmark judgment of May 9, 2022, which set aside the wildlife clearance for the project, must be respected—not only as a legal directive but as a moral compass guiding our development choices, he said.
He added: “The Commission’s statement, led by Rev Dr Bolmax Pereira, echoes the voice of thousands of Goans who have consistently opposed this project. Their concerns are not abstract—they are rooted in lived realities: The irreversible damage to the Western Ghats, a globally recognised biodiversity hotspot. The threat to ancestral homes, heritage structures, and religious sites that define our cultural identity. The health risks posed by increased coal transportation and air pollution. The forcible acquisition of land from farmers and communidades, undermining livelihoods and local governance”.
As a public representative, the Velim MLA said he stands with the people and the Church in asserting that development must never come at the cost of our environment, heritage, or dignity. Goa’s future lies in sustainable, inclusive growth—not in projects that disregard judicial orders and bulldoze public sentiment, he added.
Cruz has called upon the government to immediately halt all activities related to the double-tracking project and initiate a transparent, participatory reassessment of its necessity and impact. Let us build a Goa that honours its natural heritage and listens to its people.
